Kremlin says new European Union sanctions in direct violation of worldwide law

Ellis Simpson

Since then, the war in Ukraine has claimed some 10,000 lives, and has displaced millions of people.

Siemens said Russia had "illegally moved to Crimea against clear contractual agreements" four gas turbines the firm delivered for a project on the Russian mainland in Krasnodar region.

On Friday, the European Union blacklisted Russia's Technopromexport and Interavtomatika companies, as well as Russian Deputy Energy Minister Andrei Cherezov, Head of the ministry's Department for Operational Control and Electricity Management Evgeniy Grabchak and Technopromexport CEO Sergei Topor-Gilka.

The EU Council cautioned further that establishing an independent power supply for Crimea and Sevastopol supported their separation from Ukraine, and undermined "the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine".

Gas turbines are a "substantial element" in the development of new power plants, the council said. The move follows the transfer of gas turbines to the area.

Last week, the US Congress approved a bill on new sanctions against Iran, North Korea and Russian Federation and news emerged that Trump meant to sign it. The proposal for providing weapons to Ukraine comes amid tension between the White House and Congress over how to respond to Russian interference in the 2016 election, and an investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.

The EU measures involve a freeze on their assets and travel bans. Moving them to Crimea breaches conditions of sale.

Crimea has been subjected to European Union sanctions on energy technology since Russian military forces seized control of the Ukrainian region in March 2014 and the Kremlin staged a referendum that has been deemed as illegitimate by most countries in the world.